Arkansas failed to complete its comeback against Oklahoma, falling 65-62 at Bud Walton Arena. Things looked promising for the Hogs, but a two-minute scoring drought at the end sealed their fate.
“We played well enough to win,” head coach John Calipari said. “We fought like crazy. We never gave up on the game.”
Game Summary
Both teams traded offensive runs early in the game. Arkansas shot better in the first half compared to its last outing, going 40.7% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range, and 80% from the free-throw line. Oklahoma built a 13-point lead after a three-pointer by Glenn Taylor Jr. with 4:05 left in the first half, but Arkansas responded with a run to pull within four, trailing 35-31 at halftime.
The second half featured nine ties as both teams battled. Midway through, Arkansas seemed poised to take control after Zvonimir Ivisic hit a three-pointer to put the Hogs up by six. However, Oklahoma responded quickly, erasing the lead in about a minute. With 2:13 left, Johnell Davis tied the game at 62-62 with a clutch three-pointer, but Arkansas missed the go-ahead shot in the final seconds. Oklahoma scored on a quick transition play, securing the 65-62 win.
Who Stood Out for Arkansas
Johnell Davis led all scorers with 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. Stepping up in the absence of Boogie Fland, Davis also grabbed three rebounds and tallied four steals.
Zvonimir Ivisic made an impact off the bench after Jonas Aidoo struggled early. Ivisic finished with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-6 from three-point range, while adding six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
“He’s [Zvonimir Ivisic] in a great frame of mind,” Calipari said. “He’s got a great spirit about him right now. He’s taking responsibility instead of trying to blame anybody. He’s spending the time you have to spend at this, and it’s paying off.”
Looking Ahead
The Razorbacks will head to Rupp Arena to face Kentucky on Feb. 1, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPN.
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